6 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 3.5 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
A student tapes sexual encounters in a Hollywood hotel for his thesis.
Starring: Stephen Shellen, Marie Laurin, Barry Primus, Sybil Danning, Rae DavisDrama | 100% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.67:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)
BDInfo
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region A (B, C untested)
Movie | 2.5 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 1.0 | |
Overall | 3.5 |
The director of “The Lords of Flatbush,” Stephen Verona returns to the concerns of young men and their inherent impatience with 1987’s “Talking Walls,” which finds the helmer in charge of making horndog cinema, only to fight this reality every step of the way. While it’s credited as an adaptation of a Mike McGrady novel (1977’s “The Motel Tapes”), the picture certainly doesn’t play like literary cinema, working between a comedic overview of voyeurism involving improvisational play from a collection of actors and a dull romance between the lead character and the French woman he can’t seem to possess in full. I’m not sure what the production history is on “Talking Walls,” but it plays like a feature that was second-guessed days into production, with Verona scrambling to make something sellable on the VHS market when his original dramatic vision was quickly exposed as pure tedium.
The AVC encoded image (1.67:1 aspect ratio) presentation secures a crisp look at the 35mm segments of the feature, following Paul's movement around town with encouraging sharpness. Detail satisfies, protecting facial particulars and clothing, as some of the gags in the movie involve sheer outfits. Wild decoration from the 1980s is open for inspection, with Paul's room loaded with metallic equipment, while Don's office is pasted with mementos and signs. The video side of the picture is obviously working with limited resolution, but comedic concepts are understood. Colors are vibrant, preserving naturalistic hues and neon glow. Campus visits retain adequate greenery. Skintones are natural. Delineation is acceptable, with no signs of solidification. Source is in fine condition, with some mild scratches and speckling.
The 2.0 DTS-HD MA sound mix provides a reasonably clear understanding of dialogue exchanges, which retain emphasis, while Paul's narration is protected. Scoring cues are supportive, while soundtrack selections push through with greater volume, offering defined instrumentation. Video segments are tinnier by design, delivering on the voyeur aspects of the feature. Atmospherics are limited, but beach visits and campus tours carry some activity, and sound effects, such as gunplay, retain snap.
Weirdly, the packaging for "Talking Walls" is more interesting than the picture, with the back of the case presenting a photo of a topless woman with a gun embracing a man. These people and this situation is not present in the actual film. And the cover lists bombshell Sybil Danning as the co-star, but she only appears in the movie for 30 seconds and doesn't say a word. I'd rather see the feature the Blu-ray art is promising, but what's here isn't terrible. There's half of a decent romp presented, exploring sexual preferences and experimentation. It's the other half of "Talking Walls" that's a complete disappointment, with Verona moving away from a real party to deal with limited actors trying to sell a flaccid love story.
2018
2015
2018
2015
House of Pain Edition
2014
1983
1986
2016
1980
Limited Edition of 3,000 | SOLD OUT & OOP
1975
1989
1986
1982
1986
Slipcover in Original Pressing
1984
Slipcover in Original Pressing
1989
1983
Limited to 1200 Copies
1986
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1985